FabDigit

6092/SiC/17.5p

Aerospace-grade P/M aluminum-SiC composite (Al 6092 matrix) used by Boeing/DWA Aluminum Composites for satellite and avionics thermal-management structures with high specific stiffness and tailored CTE.

High cost $$$$

Reference datasheet — 6092/SiC/17.5p is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.

Values for the T6 condition

6092/SiC/17.5p grades and fills

6092/SiC/17.5p is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. T6 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.

Compare all 5 grades and fillsHide
Grade · open for datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %Hardness
Annealed
Use for maximum formability/machinability before final solution treatment and aging.15025012
As fabricated
Mill condition for stock that will be re-heat-treated or used where stiffness rather than strength governs.2503559
Solution heat treated and naturally aged
Intermediate condition used when some forming or straightening is done before a final artificial age.2604009
T6, stress relieved by stretching
Pick for thick plate or extrusions that will be heavily machined and must stay dimensionally stable (optical benches, isogrid panels).4274766
T6Default
Solution heat treated and artificially aged
Standard aerospace condition: maximum strength with the full stiffness benefit of the SiC reinforcement.4344836

What is 6092/SiC/17.5p?

Aerospace-grade P/M aluminum-SiC composite (Al 6092 matrix) used by Boeing/DWA Aluminum Composites for satellite and avionics thermal-management structures with high specific stiffness and tailored CTE. 6092/SiC/17.5p has a density of 2.8 g/cm³ (0.101 lb/in³), heavier than 89% of composite grades. 6092/SiC/17.5p has a yield strength of 434 MPa (62.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 483 MPa (70.1 ksi) — stronger than 68% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 100 GPa (14.5 Msi).

What is 6092/SiC/17.5p used for?

  • satellite structures
  • electronic packaging substrates
  • avionics chassis
  • space optical benches

Advantages

  • Conducts heat well — 165 W/m·K (95.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of composite grades
  • Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 6%, better than 88% of composite grades
  • Good UV / weathering resistance — 95/100, better than 78% of composite grades

Limitations

  • Heavy — 2.8 g/cm³ (0.101 lb/in³), worse than 89% of composite grades
  • Needs corrosion protection — 55/100, worse than 87% of composite grades

6092/SiC/17.5p properties

Typical room-temperature values for 6092/SiC/17.5p-T6; bars are the position among composite grades.

Physical1

6092/SiC/17.5p has a density of 2.8 g/cm³ (0.101 lb/in³), heavier than 89% of composite grades.

Density2.8 g/cm³0.1 lb/in³

Mechanical11

6092/SiC/17.5p has a yield strength of 434 MPa (62.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 483 MPa (70.1 ksi) — stronger than 68% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 100 GPa (14.5 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus100 GPa14.5 Msi
Shear Modulus38.5 GPa5.6 Msi
Bulk Modulus79 GPa11.5 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.29
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)483 MPa70.1 ksi
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)434 MPa62.9 ksi
Elongation at Break6%
Compressive Strength448 MPa65 ksi
Compressive Modulus102 GPa14.8 Msi
Shear Strength290 MPa42.1 ksi
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)17 MPa·√m15.5 ksi·√in

Thermal5

6092/SiC/17.5p is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 165 W/m·K (95.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 93% of composite grades. Thermal expansion is 16.4 µm/m·K (9.11 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity165 W/m·K95.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity840 J/kg·K0.2 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)16.4 µm/m·K9.1 µin/in·°F
Max Service Temperature (continuous)150°C302 °F
Min Service Temperature-269°C-452 °F

Electrical1

6092/SiC/17.5p has an electrical resistivity of 6×10⁻⁸ Ω·m.

Electrical Resistivity6×10⁻⁸ Ω·m2.36 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 87% of composite grades. UV resistance is excellent.

Corrosion ResistanceGood55/100
UV / Weathering ResistanceExcellent95/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryBehaves like a 6000-series aluminum: good in neutral atmospheres and most organics, attacked by strong acids/alkalis and by chlorides (pitting); SiC/matrix interfaces and Cu content make it slightly more pitting-prone than 6061, so anodize or prime for marine/humid service.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of 6092/SiC/17.5p takes about 280 MJ of energy and emits 18 kg of CO₂ — more than 63% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 2%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)280 MJ/kg120,378 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)18 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water1,300 L/kg156 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content2%

Manufacturability2

6092/SiC/17.5p's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 73% of composite grades).

MachinabilityPoor22/100
PolishabilityFair45/100

Common Calculations5

Specific Strength (UTS / density)calculated173 kN·m/kg
Specific Stiffness (E / density)calculated35.7 MN·m/kg
Modulus of Resiliencecalculated942 kJ/m³
Thermal Diffusivitycalculated70.2 mm²/s
Thermal Shock Resistance Indexcalculated49

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.

Strength versus weight in the composite family

Yield strength against density for every composite grade FabDigit runs. 6092/SiC/17.5p is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.

1101001,000510Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scale6092/SiC/17.5p

Working with 6092/SiC/17.5p

Is 6092/SiC/17.5p easy to machine?

Highly abrasive — use PCD or CVD-diamond tooling, high speed/low feed with flood coolant; carbide tools wear in minutes and drilling/tapping should be done with diamond-coated or EDM methods.

Can 6092/SiC/17.5p be welded?

Friction stir welding and diffusion bonding are preferred; fusion welding (TIG/MIG) risks Al4C3 formation and particle segregation, so mechanical fastening or adhesive bonding is common.

Can 6092/SiC/17.5p be formed, bent or molded?

Supplied as P/M billet that is hot extruded, forged or rolled at 400–500 °C; cold forming is very limited (<2–3 % strain) because of low ductility — form in O/T4 and age afterwards.

6092/SiC/17.5p chemical composition (wt %)

Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
SiC (particulate reinforcement)17.5 vol % nominal ≈ 20 wt %; typical particle size 3–15 µm17 – 1820.1
Simatrix basis (6092 alloy)0.4 – 0.80.6
Fematrix basis≤ 0.30.15
Cumatrix basis0.7 – 10.85
Mnmatrix basis≤ 0.150.05
Mgmatrix basis0.8 – 1.21
Crmatrix basis≤ 0.150.05
Znmatrix basis≤ 0.250.05
Timatrix basis≤ 0.150.03
Almatrix balancebalance

What surface finishes work on 6092/SiC/17.5p?

Anodizes but the coating is non-uniform over exposed SiC particles (grey, slightly porous); electroless nickel plating gives a better hermetic/solderable surface, and lapping/diamond polishing is needed for optical-bench flats.

How much does 6092/SiC/17.5p cost?

6092/SiC/17.5p is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.

6092/SiC/17.5p — frequently asked

What is 6092/SiC/17.5p used for?

6092/SiC/17.5p is typically used for satellite structures, electronic packaging substrates, avionics chassis and space optical benches. In short: highest-stiffness aluminum MMC; tailored low CTE; needs diamond tooling.

What is the yield strength of 6092/SiC/17.5p?

6092/SiC/17.5p has a typical yield strength of 434 MPa (62.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 483 MPa (70.1 ksi) — stronger than 68% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.

Is 6092/SiC/17.5p easy to machine?

Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 73% of composite grades). Highly abrasive — use PCD or CVD-diamond tooling, high speed/low feed with flood coolant; carbide tools wear in minutes and drilling/tapping should be done with diamond-coated or EDM methods.

Can 6092/SiC/17.5p be welded?

Friction stir welding and diffusion bonding are preferred; fusion welding (TIG/MIG) risks Al4C3 formation and particle segregation, so mechanical fastening or adhesive bonding is common.

What surface finishes work on 6092/SiC/17.5p?

Anodizes but the coating is non-uniform over exposed SiC particles (grey, slightly porous); electroless nickel plating gives a better hermetic/solderable surface, and lapping/diamond polishing is needed for optical-bench flats.

Can 6092/SiC/17.5p be formed, bent or molded?

Supplied as P/M billet that is hot extruded, forged or rolled at 400–500 °C; cold forming is very limited (<2–3 % strain) because of low ductility — form in O/T4 and age afterwards.

What is the maximum service temperature of 6092/SiC/17.5p?

6092/SiC/17.5p is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

What is the difference between 6092/SiC/17.5p T6 and 6092/SiC/17.5p O?

T6 is the default condition — standard aerospace condition: maximum strength with the full stiffness benefit of the SiC reinforcement. O: use for maximum formability/machinability before final solution treatment and aging. Yield strength is 434 MPa in T6 versus 150 MPa in O.

How much does 6092/SiC/17.5p cost?

6092/SiC/17.5p is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.

Sources

  1. ASM Handbook Vol. 21: Composites — Discontinuously Reinforced Aluminum — ASM International (2001)
  2. MMPDS Metallic Materials Properties Development and Standardization — metal matrix composite data — Battelle/FAA (2023)
  3. DWA Aluminum Composites 6092/SiC/xxp product data — DWA Aluminum Composites (Boeing supplier) (2018)
  4. ANSI H35.5 — Nomenclature for Metal Matrix Composites (matrix/reinforcement/vol%p) — Aluminum Association (2016)

Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.